The Catamount Vol. 3 No. 5 - April 2, 2015 by Cougar Media

Catamount

the

Vol. 3 No. 5 Thursday, April 2, 2015

College Station High School

4002 Victoria Ave. College Station, Texas 77845

Freshman Jordan Biehle paints one of four parts of a mural for Big Art Day, which took place on March 5. Read more on page 12 ●

Muslims make independent, personal choice to wear hijabs in face of prejudice

FREEDOM IN FAITH by Lisa Liu and Lily Parsi Managing Editor and Features Editor

It’s a symbol of religious devotion and modesty, one that dates back centuries in the history of Islam. But the hijab is at times a difﬁcult item to wear in America, as it is sometimes misunderstood and even seen as a form of restriction. “People believe that women are forced to wear it,” junior Nabihah Akram (pictured) said. “People think it’s just about oppression, but it’s not about that. I liberate myself with this scarf.” While she and her two sisters were taught growing up that wearing the hijab was the proper way to maintain modesty, a key value in the Islamic faith, their parents also made it clear that the choice was entirely theirs. According to Hussein Hussein, vice president of the Muslim Student Association at Texas A&M University, this is the way that it should be. “Some people might force their kids to wear hijabs, but that’s wrong,” Hussein said. “It’s something that comes from within, and it’s an action of duty and responsibility that a woman takes upon herself.” Both of Nabihah Akram’s sisters have made the choice not to wear the hijab, and their parents still support and respect this. One of them never wore it, but the other, Nadia Akram, wore a hijab for a few years before taking it off. She believes that she can still achieve modesty without wearing the headscarf. “I saw it as something that all the older girls did, so when I initially started wearing it, I don’t think I realized the real meaning behind it,” the Sam Houston State University graduate said. “Once I got older and learned more, I didn’t understand why I was wearing it. I decided that maybe I shouldn’t.”

continued on page 3

Index News Opinions

pages 2-6 pages 7-10

People

pages 11-17

Sports

pages 18-21

Entertainment

pages 22-24

Senior Melissa Wood works on a part for the airplane that engineering students of the Practicum class are building together. See story on page 5 ●

Senior Emmy Vasquez saves a goal and kicks the ball back to offensive players during the Bryan game on March 23. See story on page 19 ●

2 News ● The Catamount

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Cougar News SkillsUSA team competes at state and advances to nationals At the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference in Corpus Christi, 36 students competed in four days of Leadership and Hands-on Skilled competitions, and 13 students in five contests will advance to the Skills USA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky. in June. The students who placed include Aggela Polymenis, Tyler Hogan, Bryson Greenwood, Pablo Villalobos, Ryan Feigenbaum, Zachary Russell, John Cassler, Chase Zamulinski, Cahill Ordones, Sam Park, Mark Cahill, Marcus Varni and Jiatao Liang.

Boys and girls powerlifters place at state meets At the state meet in Corpus Christi, senior Ashley Troutman placed first in the 132-weight class, and the team tied for first place, but lost to Port La Vaca Calhoun in a tie-breaker. The following individuals placed in their individual weight classes: Cory Nutall, third place; Katie Lollar, second place; Julia McGinnis, third place; Suba Johnson, second place; and Ellie Hair, third place. The following placed in the top 10: 97 Camryn Riggins, 123 Morgan McNutt, 132 Maddie Arseneaux, 148 Cheynne Fly, 220 Selvedina Cajic. As for the boys powerlifting team, Desmond Payton won first for his 198-pound competition at the boys state meet in Abilene, becoming a state powerlifting champion. Sophomore Braden Tschirhart also competed. Together Payton and Tschirhart finished ninth as a team.

Math and Science TMSCA students place at state competition CSHS math and science students commuted to San Antonio for the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association (TMSCA) State Meet on Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21. The team placed third out of 23 5A high schools and was led to victory by UIL math coach Jamie Bassett. ▲ Junior Marcus Nealy and senior Courtney Sumlin portray Stanley Kowalski and Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire.” The One-Act team advanced from district competition on March 28, and Sumlin earned Best Actress while Nealy earned All-Star Cast honors. Additionally, senior Aidan Parsi was named Best Actor, and Kathleen Finch was All-Star Cast Honorable Mention. The group will compete at Bi-district in Waco on April 10. Photo by Julie Portrykus ●

Award Winning CSHS Culinary Program Available for catering, private parties, and special events For more information contact Catherine Parsi M. Ed. phone: 979-694-5800 email: cparsi@csisd.org

Teachers, staff nominated for yearly awards Teachers Erin Stutts and Stoney Pryor were selected as Teachers of the Year. Paraprofessionals of the Year are Jeanna Knott and Benny Beaver.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

The Catamount

● News 3

Islamic headcoverings reflect teachings of modesty continued from page 1 And contrary to some misconceptions about hijabs and their role in Islam, Nadia Akram’s decision was accepted by others in the Muslim community. Nabihah Akram understands too, even though she does wear the hijab, and has done so since the age of 11. “I know people who don’t wear the scarf who are better Muslims than me, in my opinion,” Nabihah Akram said. “Just because someone chooses not to wear it doesn’t mean that they’re not a good Muslim. It’s hard in America [to wear a hijab] with 9/11, with the Chapel Hill shootings, with all these things happening.” Events of terrorism, along with the often misleading media coverage of them, contribute to wrong impressions about the Muslim community. Both Islamophobia and more innocent misunderstandings of Islam can make wearing the hijab, an obvious indicator of faith, difﬁcult. Nabihah Akram tries to be accommodating to rude comments or other forms of discrimination. “[At airports] they always stop me and say, ‘We just need to check you,’ and honestly, I’m okay with that,” she said. “I understand if people feel safer by doing that. I don’t feel like it’s worth my time hating that.” However, the stereotypes behind racial proﬁling are still a problem, and they often are the effects of the media. “I would say 9/11 was the concrete that set the foundation of the misinterpretations of Islam,” junior Raza Rahman said. “Now with stuff like ISIS, people see that in the news, but they don’t see humanitarian Islamic groups

in the news. There are deﬁnitely good groups out there, but they aren’t as publicized.” Hussein agrees that people will associate negative stories with Islam since these stories are often the only ones reported. “Whatever gets attention and whatever makes a great story, that’s what the media will bring to the people,” Hussein said. “The media is obviously not going to write about a Muslim who prays, who feeds his neighbor, who takes care of people--they’re not going to write about that.” All of these misconceptions can affect the way people perceive the religion and those who practice it. Junior Samana Askari began wearing the hijab in elementary school at the age of nine, and it was not until she met Nabihah Akram in intermediate school that she found someone else who wore it. Before then, she used to face occasional discrimination. “It doesn’t happen as often, but I remember in elementary school when people would say really ugly things about it,” Askari said. “But, I understand that not everyone comes from a background where they can get to know about other religions.” Despite the hostility that Muslims can face, Nabihah Akram still maintains hope that as the Muslim community works together, they can educate the public. “I want people to know that we are just like everyone else,” Nabihah said. “We go to the same restaurants, we read the same books, we go to the same classes and we become the same professions. We’re just like you guys. All we have is a scarf around our heads.” ●

ALL KINDS OF COVERS In addition to the hijab, there are other types of Muslim headwear that women wear. Here’s the breakdown on some: ◄ Headscarf that covers the head and neck, leaving the face clear. Covers all of ► the face, except for the eyes. Commonly worn in Arab countries.

HIJAB

NIQAB Full-body cloak, ► usually black. Those who wear it must hold it closed in front of them. ◄ Covers the hair, neck and shoulders. Extends to elbows or beyond.

KHIMAR

CHADOR

Source: channel4.com; Illustrations by LIsa Liu

CSHS DRAMA

Dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the ARTS, while sharing our passion for THEATRE.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

4 News ● The Catamount

Wifi restrictions for school district limit accessibility to social media by Amelia Kurk Assistant Editor The recent block of certain cell phone apps and websites on all district campuses has caused mixed reactions at CSHS, with students questioning the reasons behind the block and whether it is serving a purpose. “Every campus in our district is subject to the same filters,” campus technology facilitator Randi Costenbader said. “I have not heard much feedback at CSHS from students or faculty about its effectiveness.” Many of the most-loved social media and streaming sites are included in the Wi-Fi block. District technology director David Hutchison says that the reasons behind blocking certain apps and limiting access have more to do with complex logistics and technology infrastructure than inappropriate student use. “There were significant periods during the day when the district’s Internet bandwidth was maximized, slowing access to everything to and from the Internet,” Hutchison said. Students, unhappy with the interruption, are finding ways around the block. Faculty who use the Internet in class as a teaching resource faced slow-

er load times as more and more students rely on smart phones and other devices during the school day. Students noticed the congested bandwidth, as well. “There have been many times when I would try to load a page [for class], and it would take several minutes or crash in the middle of loading,” sophomore Julia McGinnis said. The lagging load times and outages are, according to Hutchison, the driving force behind the district’s site blocking. “The goal of the district has always been to provide access to the Internet,” Hutchison said. “But in order to maintain bandwidth for educational resources, certain sites needed to be restricted.” With new technology that allows the district to examine the bandwidth bottleneck, administrators were able to identify the phone apps and websites that cause the most signiﬁcant drain on campus networks. “We have systems in place that track all activity, which includes bandwidth usage,” Hutchison said. “We used blended usage data from all campuses to determine a list of sites that were problematic.” At CSHS, where every classroom is equipped with a Smart Board, each computer lab contains multiple powerful computers and networked printers,

and

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and many students carry at least one device, identifying heavy bandwidth users was critical for the district. The block, according to Hutchison, has been successful overall. “The frequency of congested periods has dropped,” Hutchison said. Many CSHS students have expressed concern that the district will continue identifying additional sites to block, and according to Hutchison, that is a possibility down the road. “It is not our intention to put restrictions on access to Internet sites,” Hutchison said. “But if certain sites start utilizing bandwidth that hinders access to educational resources, it is an option we might have to consider.” Sophomore Carson Brown points out that students have adjusted to the block by using their cell phone coverage. “They use their mobile network, a proxy, a VPN, or simply load the page with 4G and then use the Wi-Fi,” Brown said. But Hutchison, who argues that the block was a matter of protecting campus bandwidth, feels that it has done its job by keeping students from using the Wi-Fi to access high-use sites. “The feedback that I’ve received from campus administration has been positive.” ●

● ● ● ● ● Phone

8:20 a.m.

35%

High School Students Wifi Use.com

NewsWise

with David Hutchison, Director of Technology for CSISD

Q A

Are the same sites blocked at all campuses in the district?

What were the intended goals of the site blocking?

The goal of the district has always been to provide access to the Internet, but in order to maintain bandwidth for educational resources, certain sites needed to be restricted.

Yes, the district’s policy is to block sites on a district level, not by campus.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

The Catamount

● News 5

Engineering team constructs portion of airplane by Derek Witzenman Staff Reporter

Creating real-world experiences and applications for students is a primary goal for educators, but the students in the engineering class are taking their opportunity to the sky. “Most people don’t believe me when I tell them,” senior Aric Zieglemann said, “Yes, we’re building an airplane in school, and yes it will eventually fly. A group of six engineering students from Jill Conlin’s Practicum class have been working on this project, which is provided and funded by the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association since the beginning of the school year. Chief Instructor, Clarence Ranck, along with Dr. Eddie Gose and Greg Derrig, volunteer their time, share their expertise and knowledge with the Aviation Education and Research Opportunities (AERO) Program students, teaching them all aspects of the building process that when completed will meet the standards required by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). The first and most obvious aspect of the project of building an airplane is how incredibly meticulous one must be. Though the plane was purchased as a kit, most of the parts are made from raw materials, such as expensive aluminum, that will eventual-

ly make up the many assemblies required to complete the airplane. And therefore the margin for error is almost nonexistent. “All the measurements have to be to size,” senior Melissa Wood said “Most of the time the sizes are very specific, within millimeters most times.” And for the fabrication of the parts themselves, the students and Conlin must use a variety of hand, power and special tools to cut and shape the aluminum pieces prior to assembly. “More often than not,” Zieglemann said, “We would have to cut or shape the pieces to somewhere close to the measurement, then sand and/or file down the rest, to be perfectly accurate.” With some pieces just centimeters long, and even more having to be cut within a 1/64 of an inch, those who are allowed to participate in the class have honed their craft and their skill with metal fabrication. Many of them hadn’t known previously how to operate most of the machines needed to be used. Before the building process, Ranck taught the students the nomenclature of all the tools, hardware and parts needed in the construction and what they needed to know about safely operating all the tools necessary to complete the project. “It is and has been a thoroughly enjoyable opportunity,” Ranck said, “being able to give these kids a look at one area of

general aviation.” Currently only a few high schools in the entire country are participating in an E.A.A. sponsored program, making this an incredible feat for the high school’s STEM class. The instructors, teacher and students are grateful for this incredible opportunity. “I feel honored,” Zieglemann said, “It’s incredible to think that even before a college degree, I’ve been able to do something like this.” The project has also allowed students an experience that they can take with them into whatever engineering vocation they may choose. As the teacher of the class, Conlin has been able to not just lecture and give notes, but work with the students with a common goal. “I absolutely love it,” Conlin said “I go home every day feeling like I’ve accomplished something.” And to the seniors who participated on the project, Conlin hopes that they use this as both a learning experience and even a future career. “Always stay focused,” Conlin said, “but enjoy the experiences that you have the opportunity to.” It’s EAA’s chapter 1531 and Conlin’s plan for this program to be offered through the engineering classes each school year. Only the sky is the limit for these students.●

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Senior Aric Zieglemann, a member of the school’s engineering team, works on a piece that will eventually attatch to the plane. Zieglemann and his teammates have been working on the plane for the past year and plan to ffinish it next year. Photo by Derek Witzenman●

6 News ● The Catamount

Thursday, April 2, 2015

District offers alternatives from typical classroom setting By AJ Jones Assistant Editor The typical classroom setting has become an option among students at CSHS, as the district now offers a flipped instruction, online courses, and project-based classes. “Offering choices to meet the needs of our various learners is not only a motivator for students,” deputy superintendent for curriculum and instruction Greg Mclntyre said. “It gives students a chance to learn skills that extend beyond the course of content,” Students have the opportunity to experience the flipped classroom, a course offered where the notes are watched during the student’s personal time and assignments, which would traditionally be considered homework, are completed in class. “We don’t have to have as long of notes on the videos because we don’t have to cover every type of question.” flipped geometry teacher, Mary Selcer said. “Students can ask questions if they get stuck on a problem in class.” “I like flipped class because if you have questions you can ask in

class and it makes for less homework.” Sophomore Lindsey Rogers said. Selcer explained that in the flipped classroom, not completing notes in class allows students to have more time to participate in interactive activities and complete more projects. Another new course offered is an online class, which allows students to complete a class entirely online and communicate with their teacher via email and remind 101. “It takes a lot of responsibility on the student’s part to work daily and not fall behind.” online government teacher, April Falco said. The course uses online lectures, assignments, quizzes, unit reviews and tests to make up the final grade, Falco explained. All the work is completed online through Edgenuity. “I am really happy that I ended up doing my class online, because it is allowed me to learn the material in a flexible environment,” senior Becky Nam said. “It was more efficient, and it fit into my schedule better.” Project-based learning, or PBL, is also offered. This course

mainly focuses on projects and group work. PBL allows students to learn most of the same material but also work in groups and do projects instead of tests and quizzes. “I do enjoy trying to figure it out and making it more like real life” PBL teacher, Stacy Cohn said. “Students can apply what they learn to a potentially realistic situation rather than testing them to see if they can remember the information.” Students work in groups and they receive grades according to their team members, the grades reflect the work each students contributed and whether they were a team player. “In regular class which usually consists of only notes, quizzes, test reviews and tests, none of these things will make me learn the way I need to,” sophomore Gini Holtcamp said, “In a class where you don’t have tests, you have projects instead, you don’t have to worry about memorizing.” With these new courses offered, students are given the opportunity to take classes that fit their individual and unique way of learning. ●

{Types of Learning} Kinesthetic

Problem-Based Learning

Kinesthetic learners obtain knowledge best from hands on experiences. Activities and writing things down help them learn.

Auditory

Flipped Classes Auditory learners obtain knowledge best by listening to lectures or by having soft music playing in the background.

Visual

Online Classes Visual learners obtain knowledge best from looking at the information and struggle learning if they are just listening to an explanation. Source: www.learninngrx.com

Thursday, April. 2, 2015

Opinions

THE CAT’S EYE VIEW

Dress code promotes inequality

staff editorial

Crucial developmental stages hindered by dietary choices

Adolescence is one of the most inﬂuential stages of growth in a human’s life due to the many physical and mental changes occuring in the body. It is the time when a balanced diet and active lifestyle are required for individuals to maintain well-being for the rest of their lives. Many teens become more body conscious and begin to pay more attention to what is popular as opposed to what is healthy. Striving for a health conscious lifestyle is admirable, but only when all possible repercussions are taken into consideration. Whether popularized by celebrities or expert health professionals, unorthodox and seemingly harebrained diets have been an intrinsic part of our society for decades. From the meatless vegetarian lifestyle to the prehistoric paleo diet (a diet which requires the individual to eat only the foods available to early man), these diets range in practicality and safety. Too often young diet followers fail to see the long-term effects of their current consumption. With the current average diet of Americans today, many teenagers are relying too heavily on processed foods that provide little in the way of essential vitamin intake. Though many of the more “drastic” diets focus on the intake of fresh foods, they also occasionally make the goal more about losing as much weight as possible instead of achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. We fully support the decision to pursue a commitment to health but not at the expense of one’s future.● 2014-2015 Newspaper Staff Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Executive Editor Senior Editor Opinions Editor Entertainment Editor Features Editor News Editor Sports Editor Assistant Editors Staff Reporters Graphic Artist Cartoonist Faculty Adviser Assistant Adviser

Megan Paradowski Lisa Liu Julie Potrykus Rachel Grant Kayla Kurmaskie Fiona Cohen Lily Parsi Brianna Aguilar Alex Miller AJ Jones and Amelia Kurk Clarissa Parulian,Courtney Sumlin, Derek Witzenman, Alina Dhanani, Anna Solcher, and Emelie Gulde Becky Nam David Rambo Courtney Wellmann Teresa Lafﬁn

● The Catamount 7

Lily Parsi An ever-growing ﬁght between student’s freedom of self-expression continues to fester with the recent decision to forbid leggings to stockings worn as pants. This policy also stokes the ﬁres in every female student’s heart on the struggle for the equality of sexes in the school environment. How are women supposed to feel positively about their bodies when they are constantly told they are for male enjoyment only, and they are not allowed to wear comfortable clothing because it might “cause a disruption” for male students? Why are we reiterating this idea that a woman’s every action, even something as simple as dressing herself in the morning, must be made with the male counterpart in mind? Why aren’t we, as individuals who hold positions of power, trying to teach men to respect a wom-

an’s body? This idea should be fundamental to our school’s basic principles. It seems counterintuitive to teach young people that a hard work ethic and determination equates success, yet no matter how intellectual a female is her character and personality boils down to how tight her pants are. This can be continued with the policies against spaghetti straps or pants shorter than ﬁngertip length. What part about these styles is “disruptive” for men? It seems obvious if a boy can’t handle himself around a girl showing her shoulder it’s his problem, not the girl’s. The school environment should nurture our originality, expression, and personal interests, not tear them down. If our administration considers this against our school’s values, what will stop them from deciding art classes promote too much creativity in a young person’s minds, or coed classes are an endangerment to students’ health? I urge the school board to answer this question: Will we continue moving forward and progressing as the ideas in today’s society progress or ﬁght against them and revert to an oppressive institution?●

View of the Pride: Would you be willing to try a fad diet?

YES

“Yes, but I don’t think I’d be able to stick to it because I don’t think it would have much effect.”- Lauren Klaus, 10 “It’s always good to try things out, but I like to take the consequences into consideration.”- Rebecca Summer, 12

“They are unsuccessful and unhealthy.” -Emma Ward, 11 “I like food too much.”-Becca Watson, 11 “They don’t work. Why else do you think they go out so quickly?”-Wyatt Synwolt, 11

The newspaper is produced by the Advanced Journalism: Newspaper Production class at College Station High School, 4002 Victoria Ave., College Station, Texas, 77845. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not reﬂective of the administrators, faculty or staff of the College Station Independent School District. Submissions to the editors are welcomed but must be signed and should not exceed 300 words. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions in the interest of clarity and length or to not print a letter at all. Letters containing obscene or libelous material will not be considered. The Editorial Board consists of all staff. The newspaper is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC), the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). College Station ISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or handicap in providing education services. Glynn Walker, Director of Human Resources, 1812 Welsh, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-764-5412) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title IX. Catherine George, Director of Special Services, 1812 Welsh, Suite 120, College Station, Texas 77840 (979764-5433) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination. requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

8 Opinions ● The Catamount

Thursday, April. 2, 2015

Insensitivity minimizes importance of Jewish heritage

Fiona Cohen “But you’re not, like, really Jewish, are you?” The name Cohen is the most common Jewish last name in the world. That surname stamped upon my birth certiﬁcate is the embodiment of a proud and ancient ancestry. I have been asked countless times to explain what it means to be “half Jewish.” This is the name my parents and I gave to the clashing cultures of our family: Christmases and Hanukkahs, Easters and Passovers, dual holidays and exponentially more exposure to the two worlds to which my brother and I belong. I am Jewish in the sense that somewhere deep in the roots of my family tree, my ancestors were rumored to have wandered a faraway desert for 40 years or so. I celebrate that lineage at each holiday I spend with my grandparents, whose New York and Chicago accents have survived two decades in the south. But I can’t count how many times strangers, or even friends, have attempted to illegitimatize my claim to the term “Jewish.” I came to realize this misunderstanding between myself and the many of my classmates the ﬁrst time I heard

someone use the word “Jew” as a derogatory term. In eighth grade it was hurled across a classroom from one boy to another: “God, quit being such a Jew!” as though it was something to be ashamed of. I did not react. But it was not for a lack of courage. It was rather for a lack of comprehension. I did not voice my concerns over the misuse of this label, because I did not understand why it might be used as an attack. Over the years people have understood my disapproval of Holocaust jokes and Jewish slurs to mean that I belong to the culture they are so quick to make light of. And they are halfway correct. But the disappointing looks I give to anti-Semitic remarks and “jokes” about Nazism or the Holocaust do not come solely from personal offense. I find myself constantly disappointed by bigotry and prejudice that ought to offend Jews and non-Jews alike. I’ve spent too many Hanukkahs playing dreidel, too many Passovers searching for the Afikoman. I’ve eaten too many ceremonial meals sandwiched between two sides of biblical history. I’ve heard too many stories of our ancestors in Egypt and Israel, of the people whose struggle led to my existence in a world that is still not as understanding as it ought to be. I have been too Jewish for too long to tolerate the mockery, the teasing, and the lighthearted ridicule of a family history I am proud of. These desert wanderers, these genocide victims, these candle-lighters and yarmulke-wearers are one half of my divided family tree. They are the embodiment of so much culture, so much firelight, and a heritage I am proud to call mine. This household will never be any laughing matter.●

QUESTION of the ISSUE: What type of learner are you?

Kinesthetic 1 body part=50 people

Visual

OVERHEARD What was your worst babysitting experience?

“I was lifting a new born baby, and it puked in my mouth.” Chance Ausburger, sophomore

“There was this kid who had a handful of beetles, and he squished them on the side of a window.” Madeline Jordan, junior

“Two children sat on me covered my face with pillows and jumped up and down on my spine, laughing.” Lauren Jones, sophomore

“A kid asked if I was a boy or a girl.” Katelyn Bailey, senior

DAILY GRIND

Auditory 825 students surveyed

“Prom Profit”

By: David Rambo

Opinions

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Small gestures of kindness make large impacts

Lisa Liu “You’re pretty!” I came to a stop in the middle of the aisle at Walmart and turned my head, slowly. Standing a few feet behind me was a small girl of about five, clutching her mother’s hand and beaming at me. After a quick glance determined that there was no one else around, I realized that she could only have been addressing me. The mother looked down in surprise and smiled affectionately as if to say look how sweet she is. I agreed, but I didn’t know how to react—just thanking her and then walking away didn’t seem quite fitting. I think that I thanked her, told her it was very kind of her to say so, and gave her a hug, all while supremely flustered. I also patted her head and messed her hair up in the process. It was awkward.

But while that day was definitely one tell them so. It’s such an easy thing to do of my more embarrassing Walmart expe- that might make someone’s day better, if riences, it was also one of the more heart- only for a few seconds. warming (not that there was much comI’ve especially started complimentpetition). What struck me was how easily ing strangers more often because on the the girl had complimented me. There had occasions that it happens to me, it stands been no trace of shyness, no hesitation in out. People who don’t know me and will her voice when she blurted it out most likely never talk to me again to me. She’d seen me, a comhave nothing to gain by complete stranger in Walmart, plimenting me, yet they thought I was pretty, do it anyway; it’s a and then promptly told small act of pure kindme. It was unfathomness, heightened by able, and also kind of the fact that some admirable. people can be rather Over the past unreceptive. When I two years since that do it, I think of it as incident, I’ve gradually passing on the favor. become more and more Sometimes I still forward with my own comthink about that little girl in pliments to people. I’m not Walmart, the girl who made art by Becky Nam sure what the average is, but I am my day with just two words and pretty sure that I’m well above it a smile. She’s part of the reason when it comes to how many times I give I now try to be honest about my appreciaout compliments each day. Not that I’m tion for people whenever I can, because if pulling a Regina George or anything—I the fact that she’s still affecting my actions don’t do it insincerely. But whenever I two years later proves anything, it’s that think someone’s hair looks nice,or even the smallest expressions can sometimes when I find myself liking some non-super- matter the most.● ficial trait about them, I feel compelled to

● The Catamount 9

Voices If you were a ﬂower, what would you be? “A rose because I’m classy, of course.”

Cullen Paradowski, freshman

“A bluebonnet because blue is my favorite color.” Noah Kema, sophomore

“A venus flytrap.”

Elizabeth Kellstedt, freshman

Experience creates greater appreciation for coaching

Alex Miller When Coach Huff asked if I would coach one Friday evening to teach some 10 and 11-year-olds the basic plays and concepts of our high school offense, I thought it would be a unique and fun experience for me and the kids. However, this experience would change how I view coaching as a whole. The first few practices were nice and simple. The kids would line up in two lines, I would teach them a route along with the hand signal that went with it, and they would run it until they memorized it like their birthday. Then I had to teach them the actual plays. This became a little more complicated since it did not involve simple routes like hitches and slants, but luckily I have a group of guys who love to play the game and they picked up the plays quickly. The difficulty came when I had to explain to each of the receivers why not all of them were open on every single play, why our quarterbacks cannot pass the ball forty yards down field, and why it is important to run all routes at full-speed.

After about a month of practicing, it came time to play in our first tournament, at CSHS on a Saturday afternoon. Since the team is coached by several dads in the actual games I thought I was going to hangout on the sideline and give some encouragement the entire time. I was soon thrown into a position I was not quite ready for. The first two games were tough losses that were close. Our defense was playing decent, but we continued to struggle on offense. Between the second and third games, the dad who had been calling plays asked me if I wanted to take a shot at play-calling in our final game. Instinctively I said yes, but then I thought about what I had gotten myself into and how I would approach this. Our first half was tough. We had thrown four interceptions and not scored once. I was highly stressed about what to do next. I then taught our players an expansion of one of our go-to plays. Three plays later we scored a touchdown. I had never felt so happy about scoring six points in my entire life. We may have lost that final game 32-19, but I felt accomplished by leading those kids to our highest point total of the day. This experience has changed the way I see sports as a whole and I will never forget it. It takes a certain person to have the desire to go through all the stress and hardships that come with coaching. I cannot wait for five or six years from now when I come back to watch these kids play on a Friday night, knowing that I was the first one to teach them the plays that they are running.●

“A sunflower because there are inspirational quotes on them and I’m basic.” Kaitlyn Terzian,

“A blue orchid because they aren’t found in Texas.” Darren White, junior

“A cactus flower.”

Kelly Zhang, senior

10 Opinions ● The Catamount

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Workplace inequality threatens future careers

Julie Potrykus There is this underlying belief in America that if you try your best, you will ﬁnd success. The American Dream, where the possibilities end only once your determination ends. You can be anything you want to be. Within reason. No matter how hard I try, there will always be something outside of my reach. This is becoming increasingly apparent as I look into my own future. I wish the only limits upon me would be my laziness or something I could control. Who I am can play as large of an impact on my future as my determination as the glass ceiling threatens to trap me. Like many others, the glass ceiling imprisons females from advancing in male dominated careers.

The question is how do we rectify positions continues to persevere a large this situation so that everyone receives struggle that women receive more criticism the recognition for their hard work and for their work than men. Women in assertive achieves the American Dream regardless positions tend to be described as abrasive, of gender or race. Many news sources bossy, irrational, and emotional compared reported studies and solutions to the to their male coworkers whose aggressive glass ceiling glass ceiling in response behavior is commonly downplayed by the to potential 2016 presidential candidate “boys will be boys” mentality. According Hillary Clinton’s recent advocacy to crack to Fortune, 76% of women received the glass ceiling. Yet many of these negative feedback on performance review articles fail to focus on the opposed to big picture. With headlines the 98% of reporting “ways women male who unknowingly received sabotage their o n l y success” from constructive B u s i n e s s feedback. Insider, many The gender of articles blame the the manager victims in this writing the situation. In this review played particular Business an insignificant Insider article, the author attributes art by Becky Nam role in the content of the lack of females in leadership to the feedback. women saying “just” too much and being Despite my concerns, many women proficient in activities before taking on have managed to escape the constrains of new responsibilities. Despite the multiple the glass ceiling. Several large corporations beneficial sources of guidance, the victim such as Pepsi, IBM and HP recently blaming of women seeking leadership distinguished women to C.E.O positions.

These stepping stones have many rejoicing for these women creating cracks in the glass ceiling towards more women in leadership. These women deserve praise for their exceptional accolade, but they are the exception to the rule rather than the rule. Despite these advancements, women are still being withheld from advancing in leadership. The New York Times published the results of a study that exhibited that among S&P of 1500 companies, there are more men named John as C.E.O.s than all women C.E.O.s. While we praise the women stepping forward in their careers, many lose sight on the many hard-working women struggling for recognition in the workforce. Across the workforce, women are belittled and deprived of the opportunity to succeed based on gender. I wish I step forward into my future with “It’s a Man’s World” announcing my entrance into the male-dominated world, but breaking the glass ceiling doesn’t demand a spectacle of my pretentious superiority. The glass ceiling requires a constant effort from everyone regardless of gender to stand up and demand for equality in the workplace. We can shatter the glass ceiling together. ●

Shared joys, trials come with having twin sister

Alina Dhanani Seconds ticked by and as each second passed, I prepared myself to beat my sister in the ultimate race that would decide my entire life, before it even began. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. It was too late. Born an entire hour and ﬁve minutes after my twin, Anjali Dhanani, my chance at superiority over my twin passed. Anjali and I are always asked what it is like to have a twin. In truth, there are both advantages and disadvantages, but people tend to overlook the adverse circumstances. Having a twin is like a lucky lottery ticket. You bathe in all the riches that the lottery ticket provides you, then all of a sudden the money disappears. Akin to the lottery ticket, Anjali and I live in the joys that having a twin

offers, but when the bills come knocking our door down, we are suddenly in an indisposition. Additionally, when I say that we come in double, take this in its literal sense. The pretty and petty things like clothes, jewelry, and expensive Indian outﬁts, come in pairs, along with the double cost for school. The club fees, the novels, and the cost of AP tests arrive in a train wreck. Ironic because the costs for these higher level classes are supposed to help, this circumstance creates ﬁnancial troubles in light of college’s negative impact on bank accounts.

Full of surprising memories, being a twin includes having someone who knows exactly what you are going through, having a birthday buddy forever, having someone else’s closet to raid, having someone to always talk to at awkward social events, having constant competition in school, and most importantly, having someone else to put the blame on. Being a part of an inseparable equation is something that I truly appreciate, but it is not an always a pure experience of bliss as there are circumstances that must be factored. Overall, Though, regardless of these situations, the Anjali Dhanani is part of who I am and grand twin experience is worth all the troubles a part I would never change. Though only an because I cannot imagine a life without her. We hour and ﬁve minutes apart, she has grown with have gone to almost every party, event, restaume and we have become an intimidating power rant, state and country together, and through of one. this, we have experienced almost every second Together, Anjali and I are puzzle piecart by Becky Nam of our lives next to each other and this is exactly es of the same puzzle that complete each how I want it to be. We can relate to one another with our love, dedication, and perseverunlike anyone else and this ampliﬁes our strong bond. ance to aspire higher as one unit. ●

The Catamount

Thursday, Apr.il 2, 2015

● People 11

Hearts and Flowers

Florist flourishes AT after school job at local business by Emelie Gulde Staff Reporter

little girl watched curiously, as her grandmother gardened, telling the little girl about the beauty of flowers, the joy they can bring to people, and how to give that joy to others. Inspired by her grandmother, that child grew up with a passion for plants. Now, that girl, senior Kelsey Wentling, works at Tricia Barksdale Designs, a florist’s shop off of Rock Prairie Road. “I am getting the chance to work with flowers and do what I love,” Wentling said. Wentling started as a volunteer for the owner, Tricia Barksdale, and went through an intern-style training to learn about the store, which allowed Barksdale to see if she was suitable for the job . “Kelsey is genuine, she is creative, it is a joy to work with her,” manager Tricia Barksdale said. The first time she saw the store was with a friend’s mom who thought she would be interested, because of Wentling’s hobby, and the fact that she was in the floral design class at school. “I showed Barksdale some

pictures from my portfolio and we job, Wentling said. just talked, and she asked me if I “She was exposed to different would like to start coming in presentation techniques and after school some days,” flowers and really enWentling said. joyed the course,” The flexible Wentling’s mothwork schedule er, Debbie Wenwas convenient tling said. for balancing We n work and tling has school, and been exinvolved posed to her favorite the life of pastime. a small “It was business really just a through God thing a florist’s with the timshop, and ing and with has learned getting m u c h the job. m o r e I never than she really expected applied to. to work “I’ve t h e r e , learned and but after seen the Photo of I came in business side senior Kelsey Wentling to the store, I knew of the shop with takby Emelie Gulde I wanted to come ing care of the invenback,” Wentling said. tory, to working with people The floral design class, taught over the phone and in person,” Wenby Sheridan Clinkscales, gave Wen- tling said. tling invaluable experience and Not only has working in the knowledge that helps her with her store taught her more about the

Flower Meanings source: www.thelanguageofflowers.com

white rose

innocence and purity

yellow rose

joy and friendship

business world, she can now apply what she has learned to everyday life. “She has become more responsible with her personal finances, as she has her own accounts and manages those balances herself,” Debbie Wentling said. Flexibility is essential in job searching as a student, to make room for unexpected events and allow for adequate study time. Luckily, Wentling got just that. “Tricia has been very good about working with Kelsey’s school schedule and commitments,” Debbie Wentling said. Tricia Barksdale Design is a calming place to visit, and filled with refreshing people to be around. “You’ve heard of art therapy, music therapy, flowers are another way to reach people,” Tricia Barksdale said. Tricia Barksdale has a staff who genuinely loves their jobs, and what they can do for others. “It’s fun to be able to provide a part of the service to people during these events and special times in their lives,” Wentling said. ●

orange rose

pink rose

red rose

crimson rose

fascination love

grace

mourning

12 Student Life

The Catamount

Thursday, April 2, 2015

The Catamount

Student Life

Art club completes project for Texas Art Education Association by Fiona Cohen Entertainment Editor

Michelle Schulien, sophomore

Jessica Oltersdorf junior

Tess Teodoro, sophomore

On March 5th, it was impossible to miss a set of four towering easels planted in the center of the commons. Behind each stood an artist gazing intently at this or that detail of what appeared at first to be four separate paintings. Students throughout the school watched from balconies above and on the ground below as a group of students kicked off College Station High School’s first project for Texas Art Education Association’s “Big Art Day.” “This day is just one that you can sign up your student groups for to do some kind of public art just to get art out in the community,” art teacher and Art Club sponsor Jessica Potts said. Potts’s students and Art Club members were the key participants of Big Art Day, an event dedicated to raising awareness about arts education in both public and private schools. The group spent several weeks planning and selecting the projects they shared with the school a few weeks ago. “We knew we wanted to do a mural painting because we did one for homecoming,” Art Club president Morgan Daughters said. “We wanted to do something unique and special so the live canvas painting in the commons was just something to make us seen.” On Wednesday, March 4, Art Club members completed a window painting to be revealed on the morning of Big Art Day. They depicted none other than Cooper the Cougar, painting in celebration of the school’s art program. It was a second project, however, that gained the most attention. Pho to s by “Our mural was a collaboration painting Fi o n a C o h e n project that 22 kids participated in” Potts said. “Each canvas was touched by the hands of all 22 kids, so there was no specific person that painted this painting and there was no specific direction. Every person that approached it just brought to it what they brought to it.” The group canvas painting was an ongoing project that occurred under the observation of onlookers during passing periods. Artists stationed in the commons painted furiously over 5-10 minute increments, adding to one of the four parts of the large main piece. “It was difficult to share, at first,” freshman Cassity Burson said, “but it was really fun to work with other people and come back and see how their different styles are, in the way they paint or what they want to use in painting.” The four pieces, when assembled, created the image of a CSHS letterman jacket. The jacket’s patches represent different school clubs and activities, and includes a tribute to the school’s opening date in 2012. Students worked in shifts to finish the paintings before the end of the day. Because the pieces were altered by different artists throughout the day, each has a distinctly different appearance.

BIG ART DAY

“No two kids at College Station High School are the same,” Daughters said. “We wanted to show that no two paintings are the exact same. If you look at them, they don’t match up perfectly. The backgrounds are different, the colors are kind of off, but that’s how it’s supposed to be. No two artists are the same." Participants in Big Art Day were primarily members of Art Club, a school organization that has grown dramatically this year and seems only to be expanding. Their efforts to raise awareness about art gained them recognition not only from potential new members, but from students who otherwise may not have ever heard about Art Club. “Everybody is in a sports craze,” said freshman Art Club member Jordan Biehle, “but you don’t have a lot of people who will stop for a moment of their day to take a look at a painting. It’s not like art is completely ignored. It could just use a little more attention.” For many art students and Art Club members, recognition for the work they put in is rare at best. In comparison to other school organizations and events, Art Club and the art department receive very little regular attention. But on Big Art Day, students were able to broadcast their accomplishments and showcase their skills in a way they never had before. “I’ve grown up with a huge love of art and a huge passion to draw and paint, so I was getting to show my friends and other students something that I love to do,” Daughters said. “Most people think of art as something people do in their free time, but it’s not just a hobby. People make careers out of it.” Big Art Day was received with open arms in its first appearance on campus, with enormous participation and appreciation from both students and faculty. Students inquired about the work of each artist, posing questions and even offering their assistance. “Sometimes it’s really scary to put your artwork out there and hear peoples’ opinions,” Potts said, “but when you have so many people touching [a painting] and you don’t know who did what, it’s kind of a low-pressure way to get your artwork out there. Everybody gets to take credit and everybody gets this positive feedback.” The completed project hangs outside the school library, each of the four pieces aligned to complete the image of a purple and black letterman jacket. It serves as a mark of Big Art Day’s start at College Station High School, and of the tremendous effort contributed by each of the participants in making the event such a success. “Like everyone else I was really proud to see that my work came out nicely,” Biehler said, “but I still wish I could’ve done a little bit more just because it was fun.” Pride was radiating from every face gathered for a final group photo as Big Art Day drew to a close. Each and every artist squeezed into the commons for one last moment of glory as their completed work was recognized by passersby. Each brushstroke was a direct reflection of the wide variety of personalities and characters represented in Art Club, and a concrete depiction of their commitment and dedication to spreading appreciation for art. “We are always open to new members and new ideas,” Potts said. “Big Art Day is coming again next year. The canvas is blank for what we do that day, but we’ve got to top today.”●

"I WAS GETTING TO SHOW MY FRIENDS AND OTHER STUDENTS SOMETHING THAT I LOVE TO DO." -Morgan Daughters, freshman

14 People ● The Catamount

Behind the Scenes

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Crew transforms scenery for One-Act competition by Julie Potrykus Executive Editor Seven minutes to set up. 40 minutes to present the best performance possible. Months of practice to lead up to this moment. Every minute of One-Act is calculated for the chance to show off the best of their abilities. While the cast stands in the spotlight, the crew plays behind the scenes to ensure every detail of the performance looks beautiful to enhance the play’s story. “[One-Act] means working hard a lot of months and putting it all together to make a good play to go to state,” said sophomore Chris Greening, head of sound. Just as the performance is restricted to 40 minutes, the crew only has seven minutes to set up all of the props, connect seven on-stage lights and fans, and ensure every detail is in place for the actors. One light not turning on during a pivotal moment or a prop misplaced can damage the perception of the show. Despite these mistakes, the theater department overcomes each challenge and encourages each other through any missteps. “During our last clinic, I messed up so badly, but if you mess up, you have your family to say ‘It’s ﬁne, we are going to get through this,’” said

sophomore Braedon Lawless, head of lights special. “That’s exactly what they did. They just support and help out as much as they can.” Lawless overcame those struggles in practice to earn outstanding technician during the One-Act performance at the 5A district UIL competition on March 27. Beyond the awards, the true motivation comes from the crew's loved ones who recognize their efforts. “All of my friends and family know how much I do,” said junior Peyton McCutchen, stage manager. “They see how much I work. The people who matter to me congratulate me and make sure I understand that they get how hard I work. It’s hard standing on the side after we all go out after the show and watching them get congratulated because everybody knows what they’ve done, but the cast all knows what I do. They all thank me. It’s rewarding enough watching them all be grateful for me.” Due to the shared commitment of the cast and crew to the production, each member strives for their best even at the sake of personal injury. “I kind of developed a saying that it’s not a show until I’ve shed blood,” said senior Thomas Torres, props master. “I’ve become very susceptible

to injuries lately, whether it’s been cutting myself with a box cutter or running my foot over with a two-story house [during Noises Off]. I’ve just been so dedicated to the play that I’ve put myself out there. Things happen.” Despite the mishaps backstage from technical issues to injuries, the joys of creating something as impressive as One-Act fosters a lasting appreciation and love for theater that will continue past high school. “It’s been an incredible journey,” senior Carson Beckman, head of lights, said. “I found that this is the profession I want to go into, and [I am grateful for] ﬁnding a form of art that is expressing [what I love]. Lighting design has been really incredible for me.” Behind the lights and the glamour, the crew behind One-Act strives to create something beautiful for the audience that the entire cast and crew can cherish. “The most exciting part is getting the experience out of One-Act,” Torres said. “One-Act is just so different from anything we do. You learn so much and you grow so much and you get so much time to work on it. Your play evolves into something greater than a play. It evolves into this beautiful work of art that we all get to create and we all get to create together.” ●

Sophomore Braedon Lawless monitors the stage lights from backstage during a rehearsal on March 26. During this practice, Lawless and senior Carson Beckman coordinate the multiple lights.

Senior Carson Beckman adjusts the lighting sequence from the light booth in the back of the theater during a rehearsal on March 26. On his computer, Beckman picks colors on the color wheel to adjust the lighting. Photos by Julie Potrykus.

The Catamount

Thursday, April 2, 2015

● People 15

Passover commemorates past struggles in Jewish history by Clarissa Parulian Staff Reporter Family and friends from all around gather, and as a variety of dishes overcome the table, there is a sense of belonging. During Passover, a Jewish tradition practiced by both those of religion and ethnicity, people celebrate a grand deliverance of people from the desert and slavery. “[Passover’s background comes from] the Israelite’s exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery through miracles,” said Rabbi Matt Rosenberg, from Texas A&M’s Hillel. “Passover is the annual celebration of that exodus and opportunity for Jews to remember that miracle. It also allows us to reflect on modern slavery and modern oppressions of our own, the things we bind ourselves with, whether it be social media or abusing our phones or more serious things, it allows us to reflect and to try to free ourselves from them.” Freedom from oppression creates a backbone throughout Jewish culture. Senior Rebecca Summer has seen this struggle pervade throughout her family history, from her dad who lived in South Africa, persecuted for skin color and Jewish ethnicity, to her siblings living in Israel now, trapped in war, to her grandparents in the World War II era. “My grandfather actually escaped from Poland two or three days before Hitler invaded, and I had an aunt who escaped from a concentration camp through a barrel of urine. She wanted to live,” Summer said. Through this line of religious persecution, her family has decided not to have a specific religion, though they still celebrated Passover when she was younger. In reference to world culture, Summer believes that religions are not bad themselves.

“Ignorance is the greatest problem, not different races or religions. [Many] people aren’t willing to learn about other peoples’ cultures and to put themselves in other peoples’ shoes and imagine what it’s like,” Summer said. Freshman Cella Siegleman shares the idea of incorporating others into her cultural traditions, using Passover to do so. “We usually get friends and family, and sometimes we even invite friends from different religions and have them over, because Passover has food and festivity,” Siegleman said. ”Sometimes they’re interested in it, so why not?” Her family’s celebration consists of a meal cooked by her grandmother and mother, the reading from her father, and even ﬁgurines used as little props for the children during the story. “Judaism in itself, how I’m taught, is to live and let live basically,” Siegleman said. “We have the Torah, or Old Testament, and, we just follow it, but it’s not to hate another religion or to hate another group. Really, Judaism mainly focuses on life, living life, enjoying life and not waiting to die. I think that really helps me because I’m positive that way. Because of [Judaism], I’ve had some guidance on how to look at things different ways and how to learn from people.” Cultural understanding comes engrained into the traditions of Passover. “It’s a time for a huge family to get together and celebrate the coming of the Jewish people from slavery,” sophomore Gavriel Pincus said. “We have a Seder plate, and it consists of different things. You have a lamb or chicken bone, bitters or leafy vegetables, horseradish, and other food on it. There’s a symbolic meaning for each thing that the Jewish people felt in captivity.” Each taste and texture serves as a speciﬁc trigger of memory.

“We dip parsley in the salt water and eat it to signify all the tears,” Siegleman said. “Parsley doesn’t exactly taste that amazing, so it’s kind of like the hard, hard sadness, and we eat it to remember all the sadness the Jews endured in Egypt.” Not all dishes focus on hardship, though. Some reflect other aspects. “I like the Charoset, which is like what you put in an apple pie, sometimes with nuts in it, (basically crushed apples with cinnamon), and you eat it to represent the mortar of bricks used [to build the city],” Siegleman said. Living in Texas as a Jew leaves a relatively small community, making it difficult sometimes to retain the culture; however, Passover is one classic tradition that preserves Jewish values. “I’d say I’ve assimilated a lot to American culture,” senior Ryan Feigenbaum said. “Really, there’s a slight change in food, but the only time we really just eat culturally Jewish food is on Passover. If being from a minority culture has done anything for me, it’s really just made me more open to other cultures.” Pincus notes that cultural differences are prevalent in the entire world, not just for Jews. His parents in high school were threatened by gangs armed with baseball bats and seeking to harm anyone of Jewish culture at school. Pincus reflected that thankfully he has not experienced any violence due to his culture. “My parents grew up in the 50’s and the 60’s, and it was very different then,” Pincus said. “It was also very different for many other ethnic people like African Americans, Asians, Indians, everybody.” Ultimately, oppression is a universal struggle, and Passover acknowledges that. Each tradition provides hope through a story of prevalence, for with a remembrance of the past, there is a view of purpose for the future.●

Sorting the Seder plate •

Matza: Unleavened bread- Usually there are three pieces to

•

Zeroah: Lamb bone- The bone represents the sacrifice of a

•

Maror: Bitter herbs- The bitterness is symbolic to the hardship

•

Karpas: Green vegetables, parsley- This represents the coming

symbolize three castes of the Jews- Priests, Levites and Israelites. lamb when the Jews escaped Egypt. of slavery.

spring and is dipped in salt water to represent tears.

Source: http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/661095/jewish/Introduction.htm

◄The The Seder plate typically contains five or six items that symbolize different parts of the Passover holiday. This plate holds Karpas (parsley), Matzah (crackers) and Latkes (potato pancakes). Photo Fiona Cohen●

16 People ● The Catamount

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Child’s Play

Babysitters learn valuable skills as childcare workers by Kayla Kurmaskie Opinions Editor Snotty noses, grabbing hands and cries for more inspire fear in many high schoolers’ hearts. However, some students have found a way to channel their ability to work with kids into a source of income. Aside from traditional babysitting, a few students perform more formal modes of childcare by working as a nanny and in a church nursery. “While their parents attend church, I make sure the kids are playing nicely with each other, give them snack, do crafts with them, read stories, and make sure they use the bathroom or change them if they’re still in diapers,” senior Jillian Volkmar said. Volkmar and fellow senior Thomas Torres are in charge of the two-year-olds in the nursery at Christ United Methodist Church. “I think as a woman, people expect me to be great at childcare and are perhaps more trusting of me,” Volkmar said. “Now, I am good with kids and naturally maternal; however, Thomas is great with the kids and

sometimes handles them even better than I can.” Though childcare is a new field of exploration for him, Torres feels that working with the kids has expanded his understanding of small children. Despite limited duties due to gender, as he is not allowed to take children to the bathroom nor change diapers, Thomas feels he is still a vital part of the nursery. “Some people seem a little skeptical of why I’m working at a nursery,” Torres said, “but once they see their kids are safe and having fun, I’m sure they appreciate the kids have a male caretaker as well as a female [one].” Age often comes under scrutiny by children’s parents when considering a person to take care of their children. However, in junior’s Maddie Jenkins’s and Laura Williford’s case, the parents of the four children they nannied over the summer granted them with their trust. They worked in shifts to divide the work with the children. “There were a couple of times where I went home and said ‘Mom I don’t want kids,’” Jenkins said. “It’s

a lot of learning how to handle kids. If you yell at them, it doesn’t always work. You’ve got to be patient.” All of the teens in childcare concur that patience is key when working with kids. Once they figured out the balance and relationship with each child it was easier to bond and have fun. “My favorite moments babysitting are when the child starts singing for you,” Volkmar said. “I’ve heard everything from ‘Let It Go’ to ‘Uptown Funk.’” These moments of joy do not come without fear when a child unknowingly pushes the boundaries of safety. “A kid almost choked on cereal because he put three handfuls in his mouth and then tried to drink water,” Torres said. The caretakers say that moments like these are not wholly uncommon, but they act as learning experiences for both the child and them. “No matter what age you are, reward systems work amazingly to get things done,” Williford said. “Even if it’s hard, you can make it fun.”●

▲ Junior Maddie Jenkins spends time outside with one of the four children she looked after. Jenkins considers her caretaking a leaning experience and has mastered the art of patience with her job. Jenkins worked together one summer with Williford in shifts to take care of the four children. Photo by Rachel Grant● ◄ Senior Thomas Torres oversees craft time in the twoyear-old children’s nursery during services at Christ United Methodist Church. Torres enjoys his job and says the parents appreciate knowing their children have both a male caretaker as well as a female one. Photo by Kayla Kurmaskie●

The Catamount ● People 17

Thursday, April 2, 2015

FRESH PRESSED Juicing trend’s health, energy benefits attract followers

JUICY SECRETS: Get in the habit of cleaning your juicer often, and early. If you wait, the fiber might stick to the machine.

the key to making a delicious drink

Sweet fruits, like apples, grapes, pears, melons, oranges and berries, blend well with tart ones like lemons and limes. Some can be juiced without peeling (even, for example, pineapple), but others, like kiwis and citrus fruits should be peeled.

There are three flavors of leafy greens: neutral, like lettuce; earthy, like kale; and peppery, like arugula. Neutral ones are easiest to work with, peppery ones are hard to hide, and earthy ones are best used with acid and herbs. Source: drinks.seriouseats.com

by Courtney Sumlin Staff Reporter Juicing has taken the health world by storm, and this thirst-quenching trend has infiltrated our own hallways as various students choose to gulp down their nutrition by the glassful. “Juicing is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was a great way to lose weight quickly,” senior Keaton Schrank said. Schrank first became a part of this fad in her junior year and continues to do it sporadically. Using juicing as a weight loss tool is not uncommon—many students do so to consume nutrient-packed vegetables and fruit without added sugars and salts. “I wanted to get healthier, but because I play sports, I’m hungry a lot and I have to eat,” junior Shelby Sumlin said. “Juicing was a good solution because I was able to drink [juice] throughout the day, but I wasn’t consuming anything unnatural.” Juice cleanses are also often used to detox the body. Sophomore Chris Greening fills his cup up for just that reason.

“After I started juicing, I felt better, both externally and internally. My skin cleared up and I had tons more energy,” Greening said. Clearer skin and a significant energy boost are two outcomes that often draw people to juicing, among other things. “It stopped me from being so dependent on caffeine,” Sumlin said. “Switching my morning coffee for green juice was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” While the process can yield significant results, it is not without its drawbacks. Going from a normal diet to a strictly liquid one can be extremely difficult. “Every time I do it is just as hard as the last,” Schrank said. The social ramifications of following the diet can be hard to deal with as well. “It’s really difficult to go out to restaurants with your friends and watch them order delicious food,” Greening said, “but the end result is totally worth it.” Currently, students are opting to trade out their pumpkin spiced latte for a cold pressed green juice. Will this fad continue? Only time (and thirst) will tell. ●

18 Sports ● The Catamount

Thursday, April. 2, 2015

The Grass is Always Greener

Golf captains explain how they started playing sport by Rachel Grant Senior Editor Although golf is considered to be relaxing and leisurely to many people, it is in fact a difﬁcult and mentally challenging sport that requires the player to have patience and talent. “It can get to you. The amount of time you spend practicing, it can really mess with your head,” sophomore Ryan Labarbera said. “I practice three hours a day, 21 hours a week.” Junior Kerrigan Kelton ﬁrst was exposed to golf by her father at a young age. “When I was little, my dad would get my plastic clubs, and we would just go out and play,” Kelton said. Unlike Kelton, sophomore Jared Garlick began playing golf through his Boy Scout troop when he was young-

Sophomore Jared Garlick prepares to hit his ball frm the rough at Pebble Creek Country Club on March 12. He is one of two captains on the team with sophomore Ryan Lababera.

er.

“I did the golf merit badge for Boy Scouts,” Garlick said, “and I just got hooked on it.” Sophomore Breana Goodman was inspired by a close family member to start playing golf in high school. “My grandfather used to play a lot,” Goodman said, “and would take me out to the driving range.” After the players begin to play the game, it takes a lot of practice in order to become a successful golfer. For Goodman, the most difﬁcult aspect of the game is overcoming personal challenges that are internal, rather than external. “Beating yourself [is hardest,]” Goodman said. “You always try to lower your score, but sometimes that’s hard to do.” One hole can either make or break the players entire game. Depending on the outcome of the round, it can prompt the player to push on through the rest of the game.

“A good hole motivates you to keep playing,” Kelton said. “A bad hole wears you down but you just have to let it go.” A low score is rewarding considering all of the time players spend practicing for this moment, especially for Lababera “After a good hole, it really makes me feel good, because its all the hard work I put into the game has finally paid off,” Labarbera said. “After a bad hole though, especially with me, [I think] I shouldn’t be doing this. It makes me question what I’m doing because I spend so much time [practicing.]” Letting go of what happened earlier in the course is one of the reasons why golf is considered so mentally difficult. “It’s pretty cool how each hole is a new and fresh start,” Garlick said. “The past hole shouldn’t influence the new one.”●

Junior Will Hughes (center) practices on March 12, even though it was a rainy day. He will be competing in district on April 8 and 9, along with the rest of the varsity team. Garlick (rIght) lines up his putt on the green. Garlick first started playing golf when he earned his golfing patch through his Boy Scout troop when he was young. Photos by Rachel Grant

Thursday, April 2, 2015

The Catamount

Defending the Attack

● Sports 19

Boys soccer team heads into playoffs led by senior goalie by Megan Paradowski Editor-in-Chief Known by his teammates as “Bear Paw,” senior Emmy Vazquez is characterized by his one-armed penalty kick blocks in varsity soccer this year. “He’s really good at stopping PK’s,” senior Steven Smith said. “Emmy is the type of keeper that makes the saves in really tough games.” According to Smith and head coach Chris Kovacs, Vazquez has transformed over the past three years. “He was kind of a silent warrior,” Smith said. Kovacs would agree. “He’s gotten a lot more vocal,” Kovacs said. “I like for goal keepers to be outspoken.” As the last line of defense, Vazquez has a large responsibility. While Kovacs is hard on goalkeepers, Vazquez may be harder on himself. “He’s so coachable,” Kovacs said. “He’s really grown into his position as goalkeeper.” Vazquez prepares for the games by having teammates shoot while he blocks the goal. “On the weekends some of the guys

and I go and shoot,” he said. In addition to Vazquez’s personal changes, the team is growing as a whole. “We’ve really gained chemistry with each other,” Smith said. “Everybody knows what’s going on now.” Vazquez agrees. “We argue a lot less now, and we are more suitable to play with each other,” he said. According to Vazquez, the team experienced a turning point in the season. “Right now we’re coming back from some losses and it’s bringing the team closer together,” Vazquez said. On Monday, March 23 the soccer team defeated Bryan 2-0, finishing second in district. “It was bittersweet knowing that it was our last [home] game,” Vazquez said. The extra practice helps Vazquez and his teammates prepare for playoffs. The Cougars defeated Pflugerville Connally 1-0 on March 27 to earn their first win in the playoffs. Vasquez stopped six shots, and senior Ricky Harrison earned the Cougar’s only goal on a free kick from 25 yards with a little more than four minutes left in the game. “It’s the same group of guys that it was the first year,” Kovacs said. “They love soccer, and they enjoy playing together.”●

▲ Senior Emmy Vazquez kicks the ball on a goal kick in the game against Bryan on March 23. The Cougars won the game 2-0, securing a second place finish in district. Photo by Rachel Grant●

Boys Soccer Playoffs TONIGHT

Area Round College Station (11-6-6) vs #8 Spring Woods (17-2-3) Cub Stadium in Brenham 8:00 p.m.

▲ Vazquez makes a crucial save in the game against Bryan. The Cougars advanced to the Area Round of the playoffs after defeating Pflugerville Connally 1-0 in the Bi-District Round. Photo by Rachel Grant●

20 Sports ● The Catamount

Thursday, April 2 2015

Saving the day

Senior goalie continues to maintain shutout streak for girls soccer team by Alex Miller Sports Editor

Photo of Christina Hendershot by Rachel Grant

Diving for balls and blocking high-speed shots may not seem fun for many, but for senior Christina Hendershot, it is what she loves to do the most. “[Playing goalie is different because] you get to use your hands and you have a better view of the field and you get a better view of everything that is happening on the field,” Hendershot said. Playing soccer since she was five, she was asked one day by a coach to play goalie. “During rec soccer they moved me to goalie so I stepped up and I didn’t have to run so I thought I might as well,” Hendershot said. “I really liked it after that.” Hendershot has proven that she is talented at her position too. Throughout her high school career, she has posted 56 shutouts in 77 career games at College Station High School. “She has steadily and consistently improved her game over time,” head girls soccer coach Stoney Pryor said. “If they don’t score, it makes it hard for them to win, and she does a great job of organizing things from the back.” Hendershot credits her supporting cast of other defenders who contribute to her success, but there are moments in games when it is up to her to make crucial plays. “[My teammates] really help me out a lot,” Hendershot said. “But when it does get down to just me, I just stay calm and deal with whatever happens.” Unlike the ten other players on the pitch,

goalies tend to stay in one small area, which is something they have to overcome mentally to stay focused on the game. “Sometimes when you don’t have a ton of action going on, it’s hard to stay engaged [in the game],” assistant coach Jimmy Pollard said. “[Christina] stays engaged though, and makes some big saves for us.” The team’s defense is extremely efficient and has only allowed three all season. In Hendershot’s career, she has allowed only 33 goals, an average of 0.42 goals per game. This season has been her best, only allowing 0.13 goals per game. Pryor adds how crucial it is for Hendershot to stay focused due to their high success. “Because our defense does not allow very many shots or opportunities for the other team to score, it can become difficult [for Christina] to stay at peak,” Pryor said. “During the course of an 80 minute game, she may only have a few chances where she has to come up big, and it can be hard to do that if you aren’t doing that regularly.” As a captain, Hendershot has helped lead the Lady Cougars to a 23-0-1 season record, winning their third consecutive district championship. The team won their first playoff game, 3-0 over Temple last Thursday. Their goals are still aimed high, however, as the team is not close to being done yet. “[Our goal] is to remain undefeated, stay unscored on and become state champions,” Hendershot said. The team plays tonight aginst Tomball Memorial at Rankin Field at Holdt Park in Brenham. The game starts at 6 p.m.●

#4 College Station

The Road to State Part of 5A Region III Girls Soccer Playoff Bracket

Tomball Memorial Tomball Pﬂugerville Connally

Regional Quarterﬁal

Winner advances to Regional Tournament

The Catamount ● Sports

Thursday, April 2, 2015

elbuoD Double Trouble

Doubles partners work as team on tennis court by Alina Dhanani Staff Reporter

To juniors Rohen Sukkawala and Kyle Miller, relationships hold more priority than anything else as doubles team players on the tennis team. “Bonding is important because you have to understand what the other person is thinking and feeling all the time. You can’t be mad at each other if the other person misses,” Sukkawala said. In their early years, Miller and Sukkawala first began playing tennis six and seven years ago, respectively, while their partnership started in the August heat of 2012. “As the year progressed, Kyle and I became really good friends,” Sukkawala said. “We’ve strengthened through a lot of really close matches, and from that you learn a lot about the other person and how they act under pressure. When we go on overnight trips, we stay in the same room, and you learn a lot about your partner beyond tennis.” Within these, Miller and Sukkawala have learned about each other on an entirely new level and their bond has intensified. “We liked the way we played together. It works well

having someone who can hit the ball and someone else who can keep the ball in play to wait for the easy [shot],” Miller said. Strategy is also an elemental aspect within tennis, especially roles that each player must hold within his matches. “In doubles, you need to have a steady anchor, someone that’s consistently going to put the ball in play, and then you need a player that’s a power player to finish points,” tennis coach Ed Stricker said. “Rohen serves as the anchor because he’s very steady and puts all the shots into play and puts the ball away, too. Kyle is the added fire power.” Within this particular doubles team, Sukkawala and Miller balance both their weaknesses and strengths amongst one another to achieve efficiency when playing. “Their individual skills complement each other very well and together their team is really good,” teammate Gyumin Hwang said. Within the variation of the standard tennis matches, doubles teams are centered on trust because it is how one knows if one can trust his or her partner to know when to hit the ball or to keep it in play. Sukkawala said trusting teammates to make a hit requires a tremendous amount of practice between one another. “In tennis, there’s a lot of practice hours involved. There’s no such thing as a naturally gifted player. You have to really work for it and take the time to work at something you like,” Miller said. Regular practices allow for muscle memory to begin,

On the Court 4/9

District Tournament

4/20 Regional Tournament 5/12

State Tournament

Juniors Kyle Miller (left) and Rohen Sukkawala (right) practice their volley shots during practice on March 26. Miller and Sukkawala currently have 23 wins and 2 losses. Photos by Alina Dhanani●

thus; if one practices enough, one’s muscles and mind will work from instinct without a moment hesitation. These instincts are ones that tennis players can use in real life. “Tennis is a great sport because it’s a mirror of life. You have ups, downs, your good days, your bad days, and from this [we] learn how to adapt to different situations and that’s a great life lesson,” Stricker said. Sukkawala said that because tennis is a year-round sport, tennis players must keep conditioned throughout the entirety of the school year. This then allows for availability in time for team building through late night trips and closer bonds for relations to develop. Stricker said that over the years, the sport has taught each boy valuable lessons. Miller learned patience and decision-making as he learned how to differentiate what the best decision is for a certain circumstance and that determination is important to achieve success. Alongside Miller as a teammate, Sukkawala became familiar with communication and leadership because he learned that one must have the ability to express constructive criticism. The two players have learned what it takes to be successful in tennis and how exactly bonds play into the equation. They have bonded and become closer as they realized that it is, in fact, the basis of cooperation. “We’re like brothers now,” Sukkawala said.●

Thursday, April 2, 2015

22 Entertainment ● The Catamount

Staffers review sushi hot spots Review by Derek Witzenman I was skeptical at first of any sushi business, as the thought of raw fish could turn my stomach. Naked Fish was able to catch my eye, and my stomach. Approaching the store, it may seem like any other sushi joint, but the inside takes you completely by surprise. The colorful atmosphere and variety of smells sent my senses wild. The color scheme was modern but had aspects of Asian culture and design. I soon realized that not only do they have an enormous menu to choose from, but an open concept kitchen area so that you can watch your food prepared right in front of you. I ordered a Seafood pasta bowl and Yaki Soba with beef and shrimp. After half of the seafood pasta bowl and all of the Yaki Soba, I would have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the food served at Naked Fish. Food aside, the staff was incredibly polite and respectful. Being a relatively popular sushi place, it’s a great date night restaurant. If you’re interested in a fun, colorful, and tasty environment to hang out with friends and enjoy delicious sushi and many other seafood dishes, Naked Fish is definitely the next place to eat out.

Review by Megan Paradowski

Review by Clarissa Parulian As I arrived at Kamei Monday evening, I was relieved to be out of the cold drizzle and into a comfortable, welcoming room. It was a short drive from the school to the restaurant, since it is located next to the Towerpoint H-E-B. The room was fairly dim and quiet with simple decorations completing the calm ambiance. My friends were already seated and looking through the extensive menu. A waiter served us water right away, and he was helpful in telling us what the rolls had, since not all of them were explained on the menu. I ordered a tempura roll for $6.95 and miso soup for $2.25. The soup came out immediately and we only waited about 15 minutes before we got our sushi. Mine had 8 pieces with avocado, tempura battered shrimp, and crabmeat inside. A rich sauce was drizzled on top which had a sweet and ﬂavorful taste. My friends ranged in their familiarity with sushi, from eating it regularly to trying it for the ﬁrst time, and everyone was happy with their choices. Compared to other sushi places I’ve been, Kamei would be on the top of my list. On week days it is not crowded, the location is close to the school, the sushi is well priced, and the quality is fantastic.

When I walked into 40 Tempura off Texas Avenue, I was greeted by a friendly server who immediately escorted me to a table. The atmosphere was relaxed and quiet, and the décor was a bit fancier than I had expected. This restaurant would make a great date location, as the dim lighting gives off a romantic vibe. I ordered one of “40’s signature rolls,” the snow blossom. The roll was at my table within ten minutes, and it was delicious. While I truly enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, I did feel that the menu items were a bit pricy. The snow blossom roll was $13.99, and the other rolls ranged from $5 to $18. Although the rolls around the $5 range are rather cheap, if you want to try any of their specialties you will have to bump up your price range pretty drastically. In addition to sushi, 40 Tempura also serves hibachi, steak, soup, noodles and bentos, ranging from $9 to $35. I highly recommend this restaurant; however, you should be prepared to spend a little extra for the true 40 Tempura experience.

MowMasters

Supports the

Cougars

It’s easy to spot a Harley’s man 520 University Drive East College Station

Lawn Service Brian Bland TAMU ‘93

(979) 777-7390

The Catamount ● Entertainment

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Run For For Your Your Life Life Run High schools team up to host horror-themed 5K ▲

▲ A runner peers out from one of many obstacles incorporated into the event. Participants navigated through these in order to complete the race. Photo by Brianna Aguilar ●

by Brianna Aguilar News Editor

▲Seniors Tyler Sgarbi and Taran Stupka pose before the race. Like all other zombies, they applied makeup to authenticate their zombie look. Photo by Brianna Aguilar ●

Freshman Rosetta Wang runs along the trailportion of the race. Runners were given brief breaks from “zombie attacks” on the course. Photo by Brianna Aguilar ●

For the first time in the College Station Independent School District history, both high schools unanimously worked together to produce a unique event of exercise for all high school students: a 5K with zombies. “It was really fun and I liked running with my friends and meeting new people doing the run,” freshman Rosetta Wang said. “It was fun to run in a pack with a common goal—to survive.” In order to make this zombie run a successful event and a legacy for years to come, both student councils of A&M Consolidated High School and CSHS worked together to plan, shape and execute this idea of a run in an unconventional way. “It’s definitely been a learning experience because we learned and are still learning how to communicate when you can’t see [the other student council] every day or do not have a meeting with them every week,” senior Sam Morris said. “So, it [was] a little bit harder, but it [was] also so nice because you can collect your thoughts before you present them to each other.” The Zombie Run was held on Saturday, March 7 at the district’s transportation center. The kicked off early at 9 a.m., where insidi-

▲

Senior Tyler Sgarbi scares runners as they exit an obstacle. Zombies made the course more challenging than a typical 5K run. Photo by Brianna Aguilar ●

ous and intense music awaited the arrival of runners and zombies. The run consisted of a 5K “mixed with a gladiator, fun run event, a bunch of obstacles and intense moments where zombies are chasing after you and popping out at you,” Morris said. One obstacle consisted of a hay bale on top of a dark tunnel where runners crawled through with zombies hitting the outside of the hay bale and trying to catch them from the outside, creating suspense for the runners to finish the race without getting “bitten”. At the front near the registration table, there was bread and water for the runners after the run and a zombie station with bottles of red fake blood and makeup where the student zombies could get prepped before each run. “There was that moment of pressure where you see all [the zombies] ahead of you and are about to come after you,” sophomore Lucas Chollet said. “I think it’s really fun and hopefully we get to do it every year.” With the colder temperature and foggy atmosphere, the Zombie Run definitely heightened the experience of the run for all those who attended this first-time event. “I know the event itself is going to be successful just because of the work we put into it,” Morris said. “But I definitely think it’s a first year, and with a first year of anything, there’s always room for improvement.” ●

Ju st Hangin’ Around

Thursday, April. 2, 2015

24 Etc ● The Catamount

Hammocking serves as outlet to relax in nature

Sophomore Jonathan Beikirch

Junior Madeline Dungan Photos by Anna Solcher

Places to Hammock TAMU Research Park -off of University Drive

Lick Creek Park -off of Rock Prairie

Bee Creek

-off of Bee Creek Drive

by Anna Solcher Staff Reporter It’s a beautiful day outside. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining and there is an expanse of clear sky crowded by lush tree branches. A gentle breeze softly sways back and forth in a perfect little... hammock? Hammocking has become a popular pastime for many high school students to spend time with friends and to relax and connect with nature. Hammocking, also known as Enoing, based on the popular brand Eno, has become increasingly common in areas around campus. Eno hammocks are made out of light parachute material and come in several different colors and sizes. These hammocks are known for being comfortable and easy to carry and hook up anywhere. In contrast to the indoor lifestyle many people are accustomed to, hammocking serves as way to spend time in nature. “I like being in nature but not touching nature,” junior Madeline Dungan said. “I’m not a big green thumb kind of person, but hammocking makes me one with the trees.” Hammocking is also a unique way to spend time with friends outside of school. “It’s super relaxed, and you can just talk with friends. It’s a nice change of pace from the normal stressful school environment I am used to,” senior Jj Handy said. In contrast to the normal high school activities many people do, hammocking can be a

fun alternative. “Not everyone hammocks all the time, so it’s a different way to hang out with friends,” sophomore Jonathan Beikirch said. For students experiencing stress, hammocking is a great way to wind down and relax every once in a while. “It makes me slow down and relax,” senior Michael McCord said. “I’m usually doing a lot of things at a billion miles per hour so hammocking is just something that is chill and fun to do.” In College Station, a favorite place for many people to hammock is Texas A&M’s Research Park. “There are a lot of trees and its super peaceful and nobody is there to disturb you,” Beikirch said. For devoted hammockers, this activity is associated with previous memories. Handy spent the last summer at Trail West workcrew for a Younglife camp. She now associates hammocking with this camp because of the memories she has there. “When I think of hammocking, I think of mountains and adventure,” Handy said. Furthermore, McCord remembers hammocking because of past times with friends. “We made a chill setup to hammock because we had lights and a little fire area,” McCord said. Serving as an alternative way to hang out, hammocking is a different way to spend time in nature. A relaxing environment outside of school helps many students wind down and take time to appreciate life. ●